The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-22
THE STATE INSTITUTIONS.
Bills introduced by Democrats for a
Retention of Partisan Control.
Concurrent Resolution in the House Call
ing for joint Convention Causes Spir-
tied pposition-Legislatiye Notes

Since the affairs Of the southern prison will
not bear any amount of withdrawing the Dem
ocratic Senator'S are making vigorous efforts to
institute reform before the evidence of negli-
eence and corruption, in all its damaging charac-
ter reaches the public The Democrats have no
ground for defense, be sure 1t would
have been used long before this. Senator Bar
rett promised last week to submit yesterday all
the facts procured by his committees investiea-
ton in regard to prison management, but he
thought proper to withhold them for time.
until steps toward immediate, reform can be
saken. He wanted to push his bill looking to
that end through to immediate passage, but two
efforts to SUSPEND the rules failed account
of the want of constitutional majority. The
bill provides for three directors, to be appointed
by the Governor and the control of both prisons
will belong to them. The appointments are to
be made with advice and consent of the Senate
and no person interested in contracts with tho
State be director. Vacancies in tho
board are to be filed by the Governor
subject to the approval of the Senate
1t its next session, if the appointment is made
Turing time when thu General Assembly is not
sitting. Salaries to be paid the directors at
the rate of $500, with allowances for actual trav
cling expenses. The significant feature of the
bill is that the directors are authorized to en-
ploy an expert accountant to examine the books
of the prison. They are also given power to in
stitute suit against any person or persons in
debted to the State through the prison funds.
When it was found that no quorum permitted
the immediate passage of the BILL it was referred
10 the committee prisons with power to report
at any time. But afterwards the second at
tempt was made TO get it through, which re-
suited in the bill being made the special order
for this afternoon.
Senator Barrett was anxious for an immediate
consideration because as be said, no time should
be lost in making the change for fear of the
nipulaton of the books. 1t would be difficult
task at best for any expert accountant, but the
sooner he was put to work the better. Again,
the connection of the present directors with the
prisons should terminate at once. Sena-
tor Weir thought, in the light of the develop
ments made by the committee and the
report the directors themselves made concerning
the southern prison management, these officers
could not be removed too speedily. His reading
of the following PARAGRAPH from the directors
report caused a great deal Of amusement: "Be-
our obligations TO Capt A. J. Howard, warden
for the efficient manner in which he conducted
the duties of his responsible Office, and the kind
and courteous manner which characterized his
business contact with the board; also, to the
deputy warden and mis- assistants in maintaining
order and diseinline among the prisoners; to the
Gle, Capt. NJ /. Huette. who has been careful
= and ra4astaEing in mis- Office. ever watchful of
the best interests of the institutions to the chap,
lains, Rev l. 2 Gain and Rev. w. P. Barnhll
who were vigilant in watching over the spiritual
as we'll as the temporal welfare OF the inmates,
and ever ready to give suggestions to amelorate
the condition of the unfortunate copvicts placed
under their care" This occurs in the last re-
port concerning the prison, and is signed by Fl.
" Norvell, John Horn, r. j. Wilson, and since
its date, Oct. 81, none OF the employees of the
prison have been paid.
Senator Sellers had another reform BILL which
he was also anxious to have made a law under
the conditions asked for by Senator Barrett.
This measure relates to the Insane Hospitals
Deaf ana Dumb and Blind Asylums, and pro-
vides for their control by three trustees ap-
pointed by the Governor. Each is to be paid
ST 200 per year. and allowed five cents per mile
for travelling expenses. In it's other features it
Is like that referring to the prisons The chief
desire is to take the appointments of trustees
from the General Assembly and put them under
the control of the Governor. Senator Sellers
.
bat there were objections to passing such i'm
portant measures in haste It was finally re-
ferred to special committee consisting of Sena-
tors Sellers, Barrett, Mcdonald, Marshall and
Schroyer. In keeping with the line of nvesti-
cation Senator French offered a resolution tina,
was ur animously adopted. providing for the en-
Ployment by his special committee investigating
the benevolent institutions of an expert account
ant and also authorizing the publication Of ties
timony rom day to day to be laid upon the desks
of Senators. The resolution also provides fol
the printing of 200 copies of the report of the
committee and evidence before it, when the in
vestigation is completed.
A political debate occurred in the House i'm
mediately upon its coming together in the after
noon. 1t stubborn fight part Of the
Democrats to defeat call for q joint conven
tion by objecting to preamble prefaciug the
resolution therefor. Representative Caroline,
presented the paper, as follows:
Whereas, The duty devolyes upon this General As
sembly enjoined by positive law of electing cerai,
dreav vi the penal and certain trustees of the be
nevoi + institutions. and State Librarian and
Whereas. Investigations by committees of thu
House of Representatives charged with the duty o
making the same, have revealed astounding fact
proving corruption negligence and crime in the man
egement Of the Asylum for the Insane and the Stat
Prison South and
Whereas 1t is currently runored and generally be
,ieyed that the Democratic members of this Genera
Assembly with view to retaining their partsa,
friends in the control of said institutions regardless
Of their want of integrity fitness have determines
not to join the Republican members of this Genera
Assembly in the Joint convention necessary to elec
new and suitable officers for these institutions; and
Whereas Such refusal. if persisted in, would re
suit in retaining dishonest unfit and unscrupulou
men in the control of these institutions, and thereb
bring upon the State great disgrace and pecunier
loss, and upon the unfortunate inmates of such il
situations continuance of the cruelty and IL
humanity hitherto visited upon them; and
Whereas The legal duty of electng such officers
enlarged and made imperative by said revel
tons and such WICKED determination not to join
such convention, therefore be it
Resolved. By the House Of Representatives, tt
Senate concurring that the officers of said nsttuto
Office do not expire this session, should at once
sign; and be it further
Resolved. That joint convention for the purpo
Of electing directors and of said institution
and State Librarian, be held in the hall of the Hou
of Representatives Tuesday, March /. 1887, at
NJ.